When it comes to elevated, southern-mountain living, the beautiful town of Highlands, NC has it all. With an intimate connection to the serenity of the Appalachian landscape, a blossoming art and culinary scene, and eclectic shopping in and around the downtown area, it’s no surprise that the population of this gorgeous town swells to over 10 times its usual size in the summer months. As Highlands has become a premier mountain destination, old properties in the area continue to be repurposed and reimagined in spectacular ways. Perhaps the best example is Flat Mountain Farm, featured in the most recent edition of Southern Living Magazine.
Located just two miles north of downtown Highlands, Flat Mountain Farm is a serene micro-resort, wedding, and special event destination owned by Christopher and Margaret Shutze of Shutze Studio. The Shutzes purchased the rhododendron farm in 2019 from an eighth-generation Highlander who had long dreamed of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast himself. Seeing this as a sign, the Shutzes moved in with their children and began transforming the once run-down cabins and barns into a luxuriously modern rustic inn and event space. Today, this 28-acre property can accommodate up to 18 people throughout its three unique accommodations dubbed The Kingfisher, the Wren, and The Chickadee. It can also host up to 200 guests for weddings, workshops, and special events in the beautiful Scandinavian black barn and landscaped grounds.
“Bringing the vision for Flat Mountain Farm to life has been the highlight of my career. It is the culmination of two decades of luxury hospitality experience and hundreds of thousands of miles traveled around the globe. Chris has also spent over a decade honing his furniture craft to create custom pieces guests will admire. As a team, it’s fulfilling to see our guests enjoy the spaces we have so carefully designed for their use.” – Margaret Shutze, Co-Owner.
